HR - the first line of defence in challenging bias!

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Most leaders and managers are now, at the very least, aware that selection decisions can (are likely to be ...) impacted by their, human and natural, unconscious biases. It's just a case of which ones and how deep they go. But managing those biases is another thing entirely. We all know how easy it is to leave our learning inside the training room and to get caught up in the craziness of the day to day client driven world.

We all need help.

The human resources professional plays a pivotal role in helping leaders to notice their behaviours and sometimes flawed decision making. Increasingly HR are called upon to be the critical friend, to challenge and push back, to interrupt automatic thinking, to help and to guide leaders and staff generally to reflect and ask themselves the questions they committed to in a training session! 

Join me on 15 January at 8.45 am for our first free  open course of 2019. This is an ideal opportunity to share knowledge with other professionals - to talk openly about the complexities of challenging stakeholders in practice and to consider ways to become more effective. Through practical scenarios, we will reflect on the role HR can play and the critical "pulse" points for intervention. Together we will consider how to equip ourselves at being a truly effective first line of defence to bias.

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Happy hour? A conversation about alcohol and work – culture, risk and belonging

From post-deal drinks to client events and team celebrations, alcohol is woven into workplace culture. Yet when something goes wrong, it’s rarely seen as ‘just a drink’.

With new duties on employers to prevent sexual harassment, and growing attention on workplace risk and inclusion, it’s time to take a more intentional look at how alcohol shapes workplace culture – and the risks it carries.

This short, focused webinar will explore:

• How alcohol contributes to conduct, harassment and reputational risk

• The assumptions we make about what’s normal, social or expected

• How alcohol intersects with inclusion, wellbeing and boundaries

• What to think about when conducting risk assessments and looking at policies

• Practical steps to build positive connection while protecting what matters

Speakers:

Helen Dallimore
Head of Training, Byrne Dean

An experienced facilitator, trainer and former employment lawyer, Helen works with organisations to strengthen leadership capability and embed respectful workplace behaviours. She brings particular expertise in creating inclusive cultures where people feel safe, respected and able to thrive.

Cicilia Wan
Principal Consultant, Byrne Dean

A former employment lawyer and experienced Head of Employee Relations in global financial services, Cicilia has seen first-hand how alcohol can affect conduct at work, with deep expertise in leadership, culture and people risk.

Steven McCann
Founder and Director, MCG Consulting

A leading voice in workplace addiction and recovery inclusion, Steven advises organisations on addiction awareness, recovery-informed culture and social mobility. He has spoken at the Bank of England and works regularly with law societies, the Legal Services Board and institutions across law, finance and corporate sectors.

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